WILLOWS — Rules for growing marijuana in Glenn County were passed Tuesday, with supervisors adopting guidelines that will keep pot gardens tucked out of sight.

The vote was 3-2, with Steve Soeth, Michael Murray and John Viegas voting yes, and Dwight Foltz and Leigh McDaniel voting no.

Board Chairman Soeth said the supervisors increased enforcement from an infraction to a misdemeanor. This way the Sheriff’s Office would respond to complaints, rather than code enforcement officers.

The intent of Proposition 215 was to allow people to grow medical marijuana without criminal prosecution. However, federal law still considers the plants to be a controlled substance, Chairman Soeth said.

The supervisors were concerned that growing the plants would not be a nuisance to other residents, the board stated in the text of the ordinance, available online at www.countyofglenn.net.

Gardens must be enclosed by a fence no taller than six feet, and grow lights can’t be used. The point is that the plants can’t be visible.

The plants also must be at least 20 feet from neighboring property, with rules for distances from schools and other public places, depending on the size of the property.

The grow area cannot exceed 100 square-feet, regardless of how many qualified patients live there.

The rules become effective in 30 days.

“The idea was to keep it contained and as low-key as possible,” Soeth said.

Marijuana collectives have already been banned under other zoning rules, which has been the case in other communities in Glenn County.

Staff writer Heather Hacking can be reached at 896-7758, hhacking@chicoer.com or on Twitter @HeatherHacking.